Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database.

Rk.: The author's ranking of that pitcher for that day only. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Opp: The pitcher's opponent for the day. QR: "Quality Rating," or the starting pitcher's matchup rating -- separate from the author's ranking -- which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. OPS is the primary statistic used in the calculation. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. So, for example, a 10 is a must-start rating, while a 1 should be avoided (if possible); a 1-2 is poor, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is average, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is excellent. W-L: Pitcher's win-loss record. ERA: Pitcher's earned run average. WHIP: Pitcher's average number of walks plus hits surrendered per inning.

Wednesday's MLB schedule has a typical mixture of great, good, average and bad starting pitching. Twelve aces are owned in at least 90 percent of the ESPN.com fantasy universe (Matt Harvey, Jeff Locke, Max Scherzer, Jon Lester, Mike Minor, Felix Hernandez, Derek Holland, CC Sabathia, Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Matt Garza and Bartolo Colon), and all 12 remain no-brainer starts for all fantasy leagues. Josh Johnson (55 percent ownership) is the only other Wednesday pitcher who is part of more ESPN.com fantasy rosters than waiver wires. However, the struggling right-hander (9 ER, 15 H in 9 1/3 IP over past two starts) should be used only in larger leagues against the potent Detroit Tigers lineup that rocked him for six runs in 1 1/3 innings earlier this year. As for the average-to-bad pitchers who are likely available on your waiver wire, below are three names to strongly consider starting on Wednesday:

Tony Cingrani (31 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) is once again replacing injured Johnny Cueto (lat) in the Cincinnati Reds' rotation, where he's shined in his rookie season. In seven starts, the 23-year-old lefty is 3-0 with a 3.15 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, .207 opponents' BA and a whopping 10.4 K/9 rate. The only knock on these fantastic numbers is that all seven of these opponents rank among the 13 lowest-scoring teams in the majors. Although Wednesday's opponent, the San Francisco Giants, are a mediocre 16th in runs (334) this season, they rank seventh in MLB with a .730 OPS versus left-handed pitching. However, the Giants have just been miserable in their past nine road games, tallying just one win and 21 runs (2.3 per game) with a .227 BA, .280 OBP and .344 SLG over this stretch. They scored one run or none in five of these contests, including two one-run showings at Coors Field. Cingrani also has the definitive pitching advantage going up against struggling Barry Zito who has just been destroyed on the road this season. In six away contests, the left-hander is 0-5 with a 10.41 ERA, 2.46 WHIP and laughable opponents' slash of .423 BA, .466 OBP and .591 SLG. Cingrani is worthy of a roster spot in all fantasy leagues as long as he remains in the Reds' rotation.

Kyle Lohse (47 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) is coming off one heck of a month, as his 1 2/3 scoreless innings before a monster rain delay on Sunday improved his June numbers to 2-0, 2.34 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Although he's pitching on short rest Wednesday, Lohse threw only 27 pitches on Sunday, so this shouldn't really bother him. Neither should pitching on the road, where he sports a solid 3.49 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in nine starts this season. What might bother him is the suddenly hot Washington Nationals lineup that now has outfielders Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth back healthy. The duo is a combined 11-for-27 (.407 BA) with three homers against Lohse in their careers, and has piled on to Lohse's nightmarish career stats at Nationals Park (7.48 ERA 1.48 WHIP in four starts). But despite their 6.0 runs per game in the past seven contests, the Nats are still among the worst five teams in the majors in runs (305), hitting (.238 BA) and getting on base (.295 OBP) this year. For deeper fantasy leagues, pick up Lohse before he starts cooling down.

Despite a startling lack of run support, Bud Norris (6 percent ESPN.com fantasy ownership) continues to roll. Although his Houston Astros have scored just 17 runs over his past eight starts combined, Norris has a 2.42 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, while giving up just two homers during this 52-inning stretch. On Wednesday, he'll face a surging Tampa Bay Rays lineup, but he'll do so at Minute Maid Park, where Norris has posted an outstanding 2.38 ERA this season, throwing quality starts in six of his past seven home tilts. He's struggled in both career starts against the Rays, allowing seven earned runs in 10 innings, but he also has 15 strikeouts during that stretch. As the trade deadline approaches, Norris could get a huge fantasy boost if he lands on a contender that can provide more wins, but for now, keep him relegated to NL-only or larger mixed formats.

Hitter matchup ratings for July 3

Hitter Ratings

Hitter Ratings

Team

Overall

LHB

RHB

Steals

Team

Overall

LHB

RHB

Steals

1

1

1

5

6

1

8

4

7

8

3

4

3

1

4

4

4

3

4

6

7

9

5

1

8

8

6

8

10

8

10

6

3

7

1

5

3

3

2

5

6

3

8

3

2

2

1

6

9

6

9

4

6

1

8

5

8

9

6

2

6

5

6

7

6

7

3

3

7

6

6

6

4

4

2

5

5

1

6

4

8

9

5

7

6

1

7

7

10

1

10

3

6

8

2

7

1

3

1

1

3

2

1

7

9

10

7

3

5

7

1

6

6

4

6

7

5

4

4

4

Some of the data used to generate this chart is derived from Baseball Musings' Day-by-day database.

Hitter ratings account for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. "LHB" and "RHB" ratings account only for left- and right-handed batters, respectively. OPS is the primary statistic used in the calculation. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. So, for example, a 10 is a must-start rating, while a 1 should be avoided (if possible); a 1-2 is poor, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is average, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is excellent.

Leonys Martin is ninth in the American League with 16 steals and has a BABIP of .347. Mike Trout and Martin are the only players to have a stolen base percentage of at least 85 percent (minimum 10 steals) and a BABIP of at least .345 in the AL.

In his past three starts, Kyle Lohse's opponents are batting .222 (6-for-27) against his fastball. In his previous 13 starts, opponents hit .316. The Nationals are hitting .252 against the fastball this season, 28th in MLB.

Raul Ibanez has an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.027 with runners in scoring position this season, seventh in the American League. Derek Holland of the Texas Rangers is in the bottom half of American League pitchers with an OPS of .720 given up when runners are in scoring position.

Nearly 22 percent of Matt Garza's pitches are sliders and the Oakland Athletics are worst in MLB against the slider with a batting average of .188.

Gerardo Parra, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks: He left Monday's game after banging his head on the ground while attempting a diving catch, but he did not appear to have suffered a significant injury. Consider him day-to-day.

Trevor Cahill, SP, Diamondbacks: He landed on the 15-day DL Monday due to a contusion on his right hip. It's not clear who will replace him in the rotation, but Tyler Skaggs is an option.

Wei-Yin Chen, SP, Orioles: He was supposed to return to the Orioles to pitch on Thursday, but now will make one more rehab start in the minors before being activated next week.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees: He will start a rehab assignment for Class A Charleston on Tuesday, as he's expected to start and play at least three innings. If all goes well, he could be back with the Yankees around the All-Star break.

Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays: He exited Friday's game in the second inning after the plantar fasciitis in his left foot flared up, and has not played since. Longoria is reportedly available to pinch hit, so a stint on the disabled list seems unlikely at this point. Kelly Johnson is his replacement at third base.

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays: He did not play Monday because of a sore left hamstring, and it is not clear how long he'll be out of action. He's also dealing with discomfort in his wrist. Mark DeRosa was Toronto's starting first baseman on Monday and is listed there again on Tuesday.

Adam Lind, DH, Blue Jays: He left Sunday's game with back tightness and did not play on Monday. J.P. Arencibia filled in at DH on Monday as Josh Thole caught for R.A. Dickey. With Thole slated to catch again on Tuesday, it's Munenori Kawasaki who will received the DH at-bats. It is uncertain when Lind will return to the field or be able to DH, especially with Encarnacion also limited and perhaps needing at-bats from a non-defensive position.

Mike Trout, OF, Angels: He missed his first game of the season on Sunday because of a minor hamstring injury, but he should be able to play in his team's next game on Tuesday.

Jarrod Parker, SP, Oakland Athletics: He left Saturday's game in the fourth inning due to a right hamstring cramp, and the team will make a decision on whether or not to skip his next start based on Tuesday's bullpen session. If Parker is out for an extended period of time, Dan Straily and Sonny Gray would both get a chance to pitch in the rotation; Parker's next turn in the rotation comes Thursday, while a fifth starter will need to be called up for Saturday's game at Kansas City.

Michael Bourn, OF, Cleveland Indians: He was placed on the paternity leave list Sunday to attend the birth of his child. Drew Stubbs will play center field for the Indians for the next couple of games until Bourn returns.

Carlos Pena, 1B, Houston Astros: He did not play Sunday or Monday because of a death in his family, but he was not placed on the bereavement list (minimum three games missed).

Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners: He left Saturday's game with a sprained thumb after diving for a ball in center field, but X-rays came back negative, and he should be back on the field Tuesday.

Dexter Fowler, OF, Rockies: He hasn't played since June 25 because of a sore wrist, but is still considered day-to-day and could return to action on Tuesday if he doesn't need a DL stint.

Paul Konerko, 1B, Chicago White Sox: He hasn't played since June 23 because of a back injury, but is in Tuesday's announced lineup, batting fifth.

Stephen Drew, SS, Boston Red Sox: He exited Friday's game in the fourth inning with right hamstring tightness and hasn't played since. It's still unknown how long he'll be out, and Jose Iglesias will likely remain the everyday shortstop until Drew returns.

Lance Berkman, 1B, Texas Rangers: He has not played since Wednesday because of a sore right knee, but the injury doesn't appear serious enough to send him to the DL. He is not in Tuesday's announced lineup.

John Jaso, C, Athletics: He has not played since June 23 because of an abrasion on his left palm, and it's not certain when Jaso will return to the starting lineup. Derek Norris drew the assignment on Tuesday.

Jordan Schafer, OF, Atlanta Braves: He has not played since Wednesday because of an ankle injury, and was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday.

Justin Maxwell, OF, Astros: He was placed on the 7-day DL Sunday due to a mild concussion he suffered on Tuesday when he hit his head attempting to make a diving catch. Maxwell was able to pinch run on Friday, but lingering headaches prompted the team to make this move.